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Browsing News Entries

Ecumenical Patriarch's Lenten message emphasizes asceticism (Ecumenical Patriarchate)

In his catechetical homily for the opening of Holy and Great Lent, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople reflected on asceticism.

“Asceticism is not a matter of self-willed choices and subjective particularities, but of submission to the rule and the ‘catholic experience’ of the Church,” said the Ecumenical Patriarch, who holds a primacy of honor among the Orthodox churches. “Repentance, prayer, humility, forgiveness, fasting, and philanthropic deeds are interconnected and interwoven.”

Exhibit marks 100th anniversary of Pope Benedict's birth (L'Osservatore Romano (Italian))

The Joseph Ratzinger-Benedict XVI Vatican Foundation and the Vatican’s Dicastery for Culture and Education are among the sponsors of an exhibit in Pordenone, Italy, in honor of the upcoming 100th anniversary of Pope Benedict XVI’s birth.

The exhibit, “Ricordando Benedetto XVI: Verso il centenario della nascita” (Remembering Benedict XVI: Toward the centenary of his birth), opens tomorrow and will take place at the Diocesan Museum of Sacred Art in Pordenone, Italy.

Pope Benedict “was a respected and highly regarded interlocutor, even by all the great figures of secular thought,” said Bruno Kahl, Germany’s ambassador to the Holy See. Benedict XIV, he continued, showed that “discussion guided by reason can lead to good results and even to peace—even in the face of enormous contrasts, of an intellectual nature or in vision of the world. We have much to learn from Pope Benedict.”

Côte d'Ivoire bishop transferred, named auxiliary bishop after fallout with clergy (CWN)

In an unusual but not unprecedented move, Pope Leo XIV transferred a diocesan bishop in Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast, map) to another diocese and named him an auxiliary bishop there.

Vatican announces 6 papal trips in Italy between May and August, including Lampedusa on July 4 (CWN)

The Prefecture of the Papal Household announced on February 19 that Pope Leo XIV will make six pastoral visits within Italy between May and August.

Vatican spokesman reflects on 'our sin and the burden of a world that is in flames' (Vatican News)

Andrea Tornielli, editorial director of the Dicastery for Communication, published an editorial, “Our sin and the burden of a world that is in flames,” in which he reflected on Pope Leo’s Ash Wednesday homily and applied it to international crises.

“As we receive ashes on our heads, we are called to an examination of conscience about our errors, but also about those that reverberate on a large scale,” Tornielli wrote in his editorial. Tornielli proposed an examination of conscience about “the tragic war in Ukraine,” “the total destruction of Gaza,” “countries where the free expression of popular protest is stifled in blood,” and “the perpetuation of the hecatomb that takes place in the Mediterranean Sea, with migrants drowning there.”

Rekindle the fire within you, Pope tells Rome's priests (CWN)

Pope Leo XIV met with priests of the Diocese of Rome on February 19 and encouraged them to rekindle the fire of the Spirit within them.

Cardinal Reina alludes to 'growing difficulties' for Rome's priests (CWN)

In brief remarks addressed to Pope Leo XIV, Cardinal Baldassare Reina alluded to “growing difficulties and a cultural climate that seems to want to put God aside.”

Feb. 20 Friday after Ash Wednesday, Weekday

The first four Masses in Lent serve as a general introduction to Lent. They describe the essentials of a Lenten program. This Mass is concerned with fasting and teaches us what true fasting is. The Opening Prayer of today's Mass asks God to guide the Lenten penance we have begun.

Georgia Martyrs Killed for Defending Marriage to Be Beatified in U.S. This October

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